TRAVEL Dive into Europe: Attersee Lake in Austria, Diving in the Alps – by Peter Symes, Publisher, X-Ray Magazine
To recap, this series on European dive desti- nations came about because I noted that so many of my American dive industry colleagues consid- ered Europe as merely a stopover on their way to distant tropical locations, rather than a desti-
most dive sites are accessible by car or located in front of your accommodation, like a house reef. You’ll also be quite comfortable in a wetsuit. Many lakes in the region have dive centres, some of which also cater to technical divers, much like tropical locations, and plenty of cosy hotels with stunning views. Attersee, the largest lake in Austria, offers enough variety and sites to keep visiting divers busy for a long vacation. The water, said to be of drinking quality, provides stunning visi- bility and a unique topography from shallow plateaus with a
nation in itself, despite being only a single flight away, and half the dis- tance. My goal was to list destinations that are easily accessible with just one flight from the US East Coast, ideal for groups, and easy to arrange. While I was asked not to include cold-water dives – “nobody wants that” – there are incredible experiences like swimming with orcas in Northern Norway, where cooler waters are inevitable. So, should such destinations
rich vegetation and schools of fish, to steep walls reaching depths of over 100m/ 328’. Several wrecks are available for exploration, and many dive sites are equipped with buoys, lines, steps, and platforms. There are several dive centres around Attersee (listed on training agency sites), and plenty of accommodation op- tions offered on hotel booking sites. The classic city of Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace,
be excluded? That would be a shame. No place in Europe is quite as warm as Southeast Asia or the Red Sea any- way, but water temps are still comfort- able. The next destination is a bit of an outlier – one that might sur- prise most – but it's a truly fas- cinating choice: the Alps. This vast mountain range in central Europe offers some of the world’s most beautiful freshwa- ter dive sites.
Crystal Clear Waters of Attersee Lake
I’ll focus on Austria, though the Alps span eight countries, as I’ve dived here myself and found it immensely rewarding, and there is a substantial dive community in the country. Narrowing it down even further, the Salzkammergut region alone has almost 170 lakes. The region is renowned for its alpine landscapes, crystal-clear lakes with a diverse and beau- tiful aquatic habitat and rich fish life, including pike, bass, and perch. And no, you don’t need to be a mountaineer or an out- doors enthusiast to enjoy these stunning dive spots. In fact,
is rich in history, music, and alpine charm, and is just an hour’s drive away. Munich (Germany), a major European hub with many US connections and probably the easiest point of entry, is only 2.5 hours by car. Austria is uniquely photogenic, both above and below the surface, and it is no wonder that so many award-winning u/w photographers and leading u/w photography equipment brands are Austrian.
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